Last updated on January 16th, 2024 at 04:45 pm
What to do if Disneyland reaches capacity during your visit, how to get “sold out” reservations days and how to deal when you’re there on the busiest days of the year.
If you’re going to Disneyland Resort, one thing people always ask me is:
“How busy do you think it’ll be?”
or
“What’s capacity at right now?”
and even
“The days I want are sold out, how do I get reservations?” Here’s more on Disneyland’s capacity and what that means for lines, increase in crowds and reservations.
Disneyland Resort Capacity
How many people does it take to reach capacity? Simply put, we don’t know exactly. Disney doesn’t release those numbers to the public.
Quick Disneyland Capacity Numbers
- Disneyland Park capacity 90,000 (my estimate based off of past estimates and expansions)
- Disneyland Park capacity 80,000 (L.A. Times estimate before Galaxy’s Edge)
- Disneyland Park capacity 85,000 (O.C. Register, 20220)
And California Adventure Park Capacity Numbers
- 50,000 California Adventure Park estimated capacity
- An average day is 27,000 at California Adventure Park
O.C. Register further explained that an average days sees about 51,000 visitors at Disneyland Park and about 27,000 people at California Adventure each day. They also put 50,000 for the maximum capacity of California Adventure.
This makes both theme parks have an estimated capacity of about 125,000 give or take. I don’t know, I haven’t personally counted but here are some comparisons just for fun.
- Disneyland Resort estimated capacity 125,000
- Dodger Stadium capacity 56,000 (largest in the MLB)
- Staples Center capacity 20,000 (for basketball)
- SoFi Stadium capacity 70,240
It’s hard to imagine that many people in one place. And it’s a good thing we can all move around quite a bit so sometimes it won’t feel like there are that many people.
Touring Plans also has some interesting stats about ride capacity. For example, they note Storybook Land Canal Boats, King Arthur Carrousel and Mad Tea Party go through about 1,000 hourly riders each. That’s 4,000 people just on those rides alone.
Disneyland is operating at full reservation capacity. This means (theoretically) that Disneyland can better control crowds, traffic flow, staffing and more during your visit.
Disneyland Capacity Crowds
It’s a rare thing, but its true—Disneyland can reach capacity and in 2023, capacity means the max amount of guests to staff to attraction ratio that Disney has set behind the scenes. We don’t know this ratio.
The reservation system is there to help ensure Disneyland is fully staffed and prepared for the number of guests they expect on any given day. You can see the Disneyland availability calendar here.
How often does Disneyland reach capacity? Reservations open 120 days in advance for most ticket types.
But reservations often do not fill up until the week of on regular days. Some more popular days fill up quicker, like weekends and the days between Christmas and New Years.
Other days likely to reach capacity?s Major attraction or land openings and fourth of July.
How many people does it take to reach capacity? Simply put, we don’t know. Disney doesn’t release those numbers to the public, but the L.A. Times puts it at around 80,000 and that was before Galaxy’s Edge.
When did Disneyland last reach capacity? 12/27/19, 12/27/18 and again on 12/28/18. It also reached capacity on those same exact dates in 2017. Here’s the rundown of what happened and when:
- 2020 and beyond – reservations dates may become full but we have yet to see a day people with reservations can’t get in due to capacity, it seems reservations are working
- 12/27/19 Disneyland Park stopped selling tickets at 9:42 am, but California Adventure tickets remained available.
- 12/27/18 Disneyland Park closed for new guests around 1:00 pm and Disneyland stopped selling 1 day tickets to Disneyland Park, but California Adventure 1 day tickets were still available.
- 12/28/18 Disneyland Park again closed for new guests, but this time allowed guests to buy 1 day tickets and enter California Adventure, then be issued a specific return time to enter Disneyland. This was new, I’ve never seen this happen and can’t imagine the park would lighten up very much to allow new people in. It was also reported that all FASTPASSES in both parks were “sold out” or distributed by 3:00 pm.
- 12/27/17 Disneyland Park closed for new guests at 1:00 pm due to large crowds and a massive power outage affecting many attractions. Guests who previously entered Disneyland Park may be permitted back in at that time. Disneyland Park opened again to all guests at 5:00 pm
- 12/28/17 Disneyland closed to capacity at 11:00 am and stop selling tickets. Guests who had previously entered Disneyland Park were permitted back in at that time. Disneyland Park opened again to all guests at 12:55 pm. So you can see that they do their best to keep park gates open, but that’s not to say it will be comfortable once you do get inside.
What To Do if Disneyland Reservation are Full
Remember, now that Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge has opened, there’s a lot more room in the park. But there’s a few things you can do in advance to plan for capacity issues.
- Tickets & Reservations.
Before you even get to Disneyland and you’re considering when to go, research our yearly planning guide to get an idea of what’s going on and when.
Purchase tickets in advance to make full use of the new reservation system. Then book theme park reservations 120 days in advance, as each day of your trip opens for the most availability.
Another thing you can do prior is book dining reservations inside Disneyland Park 60 days in advance. Finding dining reservations is still tricky, I suggest using MouseDining to snag hard to get spots with their free alert system.
If you’re hoping to snag reservations for a sold out day, keep reading. Here’s some tips I’ve collected since Disneyland has been operating with reservations.
- You still want a ticket attached to your account. Do not wait until you see a reservation to buy! They go that fast, there’s no time to buy.
- Add your ticket to your Disneyland account.
- Check the availability every morning, and random times throughout the day. Yes, it could be considered a full time job.
- Twitter accounts that watch reservations often tweet when become available again. I like this one for Magic Key holders.
- Last, most expensive tip? If you can make reservations at one of the Disney owned hotels, their reservations are from a different pool and might have some available.
What To Do if Disneyland Reaches Capacity
Disneyland Resort has not reached capacity in terms of no longer letting guests with tickets and reservations inside since reopening. This is the entire point of reservations.
During busier times of year Disneyland may halt park hopping options for Magic Key Holders and/or ticket holders.
Here’s some suggestions if you’re going on some of the most popular dates of the year:
- Arrive early and make your favorite rides a priority during the morning hours. Only leave Disneyland Park if you don’t plan to return because there’s a chance you could be turned away. Also, on capacity days, security lines are exceptionally long. Even if you can get back in, you may not want to.
- Download your Disneyland Plan—it’s a strategy you won’t want to skip with step by step rides in maximum, time saving order!
- If you need parking before Disney lots open, try various hotels along Harbor Blvd. This article has some spots for advance parking reservations off site but close enough to walk.
- Consider parking somewhere way off site and Ubering in. If you take an Uber, I suggest having the Uber drop you off at The Disneyland Hotel so you can access that security entrance instead.
- Utilize Disney Genie Plus to get on multiple popular rides earlier in the day. Note that Disney Genie+ options can and will run out earlier in the day.
If you do leave the park and are hoping to get back in, a dining reservation might help plead your case.
Read up on things to do when it’s super crowded so you can do those once the crowds become too much. Above all, keep calm and if your nerves or patience gets the best of you, you might want to call it a day. Again, this doesn’t happen often but it’s best to prepare.
Need help planning your day at Disneyland Resort? Let me help! Plus, watch the replay of my Facebook live talking Disneyland capacity issues here.
I go on 12/27 – one of the days you listed as capacity the last few years. We had planned to go back to Paradise Pier after lunch but may rethink that since you suggested we don’t leave the park since we might not get back in (we do have dining reservations in DL at 6:30). Thanks for the heads up!
Hi Annie, I think it will still be ok for you to go back after lunch. Especially considering they have reservations to avoid this. Add that to your dining reservation and I truly think you’ll be ok getting back in.
Hi, we want to go to Disneyland September 19 & 20. But it looks like disneyland hotel and many surrounding hotels are booked when we want rooms (Sept 18-21) Do you know why?
I have reservations for dec 1&2 and I see reservations for the rest of the year are full. Do you think that means the park will be absolutely packed every day?
It will be as full as they can handle with current staffing and operations. It’s felt quite full lately.
Do you think they change the capacity right now from day to day? I watch the Disney app to monitor wait times. I’m going on the 18th and I anticipate the day will reach their limited capacity. Since they’ve reached their limited capacity today, do you think watching today’s wait times will give me a decent idea or my day? Or do you think reaching capacity means different things on different days? I don’t know if that made sense. I appreciate your time and any insight you may have!
Checking wait times before your trip is a really solid indicator!